The Student Who Saved Us At 2 AM Turned Out To Be Someone We’d Wronged Without Knowing
At 2 AM, our car broke down in a remote area. A college student, Zayd Nouri, drove us to town, refusing payment. Years later, my wife called, emotional, pointing me to the news: Zayd, a former foster kid and Harvard grad, was our city’s new mayor. I remembered his kind eyes, beat-up Corolla, and mention of tutoring at Bright Steps Learning Center.
Then it hit me. In my ‘90s city planning job, I’d flagged that center for safety violations, leading to its closure. Unknowingly, I’d cost Zayd his job. At his mayoral meet-and-greet, I confessed. He smiled, recalling that night on Route 9, saying it inspired him to persist, eventually earning a scholarship. My complaint, though painful, pushed him to aim higher.
Zayd didn’t hold a grudge. “Sometimes we need the push, even when it hurts,” he said. Months later, he invited us to the launch of Rebuild Roots, a program for foster kids and second-chancers. He publicly thanked us, strangers turned memories, now part of something bigger. We didn’t deserve the applause, but it felt like quiet redemption.
Small moments matter. A ride sparked a movement. Share this to remind someone: your kindness, however small, can change a life’s chapter.
